Shady Side Academy senior Matthew Cunningham is a big fan of the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic.

"I've been going to the classic for years," said Cunningham, after receiving an invitation to wrestle on the Pennsylvania All-Stars. "I always wanted to be a part of it. Now I will get that chance. It's a great way to end my high school career."

Cunningham made his second appearance in the PIAA Class AA finals last week in Hershey, Pa., and won his first PIAA gold medal with a 2-1 decision against Lewisburg's Nathaniel Brown in the 171-pound final.

"It's an absolute honor to be chosen for the Pennsylvania All-Star Team," said Cunningham, who also won four WPIAL titles in his career. "I knew if I won a [PIAA] title this year that I would have a chance to wrestle in the classic. I'm really looking forward to it."

Cunningham (162-12), a Cornell University recruit, will face Nick Visicaro (153-17), a two-time New Jersey champion from Long Branch High. Visicaro is a Rutgers recruit.

Cunningham is the only wrestler from the WPIAL on a Pennsylvania All-Star Team that boasts a star-studded lineup. Eleven of the 13 team members have won PIAA titles, and five have claimed multiple championships.

"The Pennsylvania team will make a run at the U.S. team," said Marshall Peppelman, a three-time PIAA Class AAA champion from Central Dauphin High School. "We have a very talented team. I've been friends with the other Pennsylvania team members for a while. This is going to be our year."

The Pennsylvania All-Stars recorded a 30-21 victory in the 2009 classic, which ended an eight-year losing streak. In the 36-year history of the event, the United States All-Stars hold a narrow 18-17-1 advantage over Pennsylvania.

Peppelman (181-7), another Cornell recruit, will face Nick Sulzer (146-17) in the 160-pound bout. Sulzer is a Virginia state champion and a University of Virginia recruit.

"I've been looking forward to wrestling in the classic since my freshman year," Peppelman said. "I faced Nick last summer at the Disney Duals and beat him, 4-2. He's a tough opponent. I'm looking forward to the rematch."

Peppelman is one of three Pennsylvania All-Stars with consecutive unbeaten seasons. The other two are Central Mountain twins Dylan and Andrew Alton, both Penn State recruits.

Dylan Alton (176-5) won three PIAA Class AAA titles in his career, the last coming at 152. He will face Illinois recruit Jackson Morse (184-9), a three-time Michigan champion.

Andrew Alton (178-8) is a two-time PIAA Class AAA champion who was the Outstanding Wrestler at the PIAA tournament at 145 last weekend. He will face Joe Cozart (226-4), a four-time Florida champion from Brandon.

"I wrestled Andrew and his brother Dylan a few times when I was real young," said Cozart, an Iowa State recruit. "I also wrestled Andrew at the Super 32 tournament in North Carolina before the season began. We met in the consolation final and I lost, 4-3. I'm looking forward to the rematch."

The Pennsylvania team also features a pair of two-time PIAA champions in Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig and Abington Heights' Evan Craig.

Kindig (172-12), an Oklahoma State recruit, won a pair of PIAA Class AAA titles, this year at 140. He will face Cornell University recruit Chris Villalonga (144-3), a four-time National Prep School champion from New Jersey's Blair Academy.

"I've been looking forward to this more than anything this year," said Kindig of his rematch with Villalonga. "I wrestled him before the season at the National Guard Duals [in a three-minute match] and lost by a takedown that he scored when I heard a whistle from another mat and thought it was for our mat. I'm really looking forward to the rematch."

Craig (169-10) is a three-time PIAA Class AAA finalist and two-time champion at 285. He will face Iowa recruit Bobby Telford (116-40), a two-time Delaware state champion from St. Mark's.

Villalonga and Cozart are two of three members of the U.S. All-Stars who have won four state titles. The other is Ohio State recruit Logan Stieber (184-1) of Ohio's Monroeville High. Stieber will face Bellefonte's Mitchell Port (156-18) in the 125-pound bout. Port is a three-time PIAA Class AAA place-winner who won a title this year.

Four other members of the United States team, Ryak Finch, Ty Minch, Jamie Clark and Ryan Nieman, are three-time state champions.

Finch (204-2), an Iowa State recruit, is a three-time Arizona champion from Safford. He will wrestle at 112 against Benton's Michael Rhone (135-20), a PIAA Class AA runner-up.

Minch (163-22), a Virginia Tech recruit, is a three-time Ohio champion from Aurora. He will be at 119 against Bethlehem Liberty's Anthony Marino (128-22), a PIAA AAA runner-up.

Clark (128-8), an Illinois recruit, is a three-time Ohio champion from St. Edward's who is entered at 130. He will face Virginia recruit Joe Spisak (164-15) of Boiling Springs, a PIAA Class AA champion.

Nieman (231-6), an Indiana recruit, is a three-time champion from Bullock Creek in Michigan. He will face Iowa recruit Josh Dziewa (126-7) of Council Rock South at 135. Dziewa won a PIAA Class AAA title.

The other two members of the United States team are Mike Evans and Trevor Rupp. Evans (153-8), an Iowa recruit, won a National Prep School title at 189 for Blair Academy. He will face Council Rock North's Jamie Callender (156-27), a North Carolina recruit who won a PIAA Class AAA title.

Rupp (113-6) is a two-time Idaho champion from Pocatello. His opponent at 215 is Selinsgrove's Spencer Myers (149-18), a PIAA Class AAA champion.

The members of the United States team have combined for 35 state titles and have a combined record of 2,145-143. The Pennsylvania team members have 18 state titles and have a combined record of 2,052-181.

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